During the First World War, along with the Flu Epidemic, Small Pox
took many lives, too, even though an effective vaccine existed. But
my grandmother Jarvis declared that she was not going to allow anyone
to put "cow puss" in her body, or that of her children. Both she and
my dad became infected.
But even having suffered from the disease, grandma was never convinced
that vaccinations were safe. As a result, my dad had every childhood
disease that existed at the time.
As much evidence as now exists, proving the effectiveness of vaccines,
the pharmaceutical industry has contributed to the mistrust that seems
to be growing. To make matters worse, the current administration is
busy eliminating or watering down the safeguards set in place to
protect Americans from greedy abuses by the Industry.
Of course the bases of our health problems is Capitalism. The
pressure to profit from everything creates constant pressure to
eliminate barriers that reduce unlimited profits. While we do set
laws in place, once abuses become out of hand, Capitalism, by its very
nature, goes to work to undo such laws. Even at its best, the
government is always behind in its job of protecting its citizens.
We are on a Fool's Mission if we believe that Capitalism can be
controlled. Capitalism sees controls as merely challenges that need
to be overcome.
Carl Jarvis
On 6/25/18, Roger Loran Bailey <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
https://socialistaction.org/2018/06/25/whats-behind-the-anti-vaccine-movement/
What’s behind the anti-vaccine movement?
/ 9 hours ago
June 2018 Vaccines
Anti-vaccination publication from 1894. (Medical Library, College of
Physicians of Philadelphia)
By ROBBIE MAHOOD
Routine childhood vaccination is one of the cornerstones of modern
public health. Evidence points to its major role in improving health by
a dramatic reduction in the incidence of infectious diseases that
formerly caused significant illness and death.
Yet, as any nurse or physician delivering primary care can tell you,
there is a small but significant number of parents who refuse vaccines
for their children. Vaccines are suspect because they are not “natural.”
Scientific and medical authority have been eroded. There is widespread
criticism of the pharmaceutical industry that produces the vaccines. The
claim of a link between the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine and
autism has frightened many people even if the claim has been de-bunked.
Opposition to vaccines springs from religious, anti-scientific or
anti-elitist sentiment. Such opposition goes back to the time when
vaccines were first introduced experimentally in 18th century Britain.
Today’s anti-vaccine movement has a long pedigree.
Modern vaccines have mild side effects and, rarely, an allergic or other
significant reaction. It is not possible to exclude adverse consequences
that have not yet come to light. However, based on current evidence,
involving rigorous testing, large-scale studies, and years of experience
across an entire population, vaccines are overwhelmingly beneficial and
without significant risk.
British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield claimed to show a link
between the MMR vaccine and autism in a study published in The Lancet in
1998. The study was widely publicised and led to a decline in vaccine
uptake followed by outbreaks of measles. Further studies failed to
duplicate Wakefield’s findings. After it was found that he had falsified
data, his article was retracted by the prestigious medical journal, and
in 2010, he was struck off the UK medical register.
Wakefield has continued his campaign to indict MMR as a cause of autism,
declaring himself a victim of a conspiracy by the medical establishment.
Recently, he directed a film entitled “Vaxxed” (2016), in which he is
interviewed at length along with parents whose children developed autism
apparently after receiving the vaccine. The film appeals to the
emotions, presents no convincing evidence, and implies a secret
conspiracy involving medical bodies, the pharmaceutical industry, and
epidemiologists to hide the truth.
Autism appears to be on the rise. Whether this is because of increased
reporting and an expanded criterion for diagnosis or a genuine increase
in incidence is unclear. The cause of autism is unknown but suspected to
be multi-factorial with a strong familial predisposition based on a
combination of genetic and environmental factors.
In the case of the proponents of an autism-MMR connection, we have
crossed the line from doubts or apprehension to fixed beliefs that are
actually anti-scientific and trade in emotional manipulation, fraudulent
claims and conspiracy theories.
How should socialists approach anti-vaccine beliefs and anti-Vaxx
campaigners who hope to recruit to their cause? For example, is there a
case to be made for obligatory vaccination in childhood?
We can start by posing the issue of children’s rights. Parents who
refuse vaccination are denying their children an important health
benefit that may have consequences later in life. Babies and toddlers
cannot give informed consent.
Secondly, parents who do not vaccinate are getting a “free ride” from
families that do vaccinate their children. A high vaccine uptake creates
so-called “herd immunity” protecting the small minority who are not
vaccinated. A fall-off in vaccination rates below a critical threshold
will result in a return of infectious disease in the community that puts
vulnerable persons at risk.
Thirdly, there are situations involving epidemics or other health
emergencies in which public health considerations override civil
liberties. Measures such as compulsory treatment, quarantine, and
restrictions on the right to travel might be justified. The Ebola
outbreak in West Africa is such an instance.
Finally, vaccination is a social, not an individual, question. In other
words, we have to resolve questions collectively rather than defer to
individual choice. Resort to mandatory vaccination therefore cannot be
ruled out in principle.
However, coercion would be counterproductive in the current situation,
with a risk of driving people into the anti-vaccine camp. Refusal to
vaccinate does not at present constitute a public health emergency. What
is required is reasoned explanation of the case for vaccination in the
expectation that the proportion who are immunised can be maintained
above the critical threshold.
Let’s remember, as well, that coercive and punitive measures can be part
of a reactionary agenda. For example, the withholding of social
assistance to families who refuse or neglect to vaccinate their children
or barring entry to day care for unvaccinated children have been
proposed by right-wing governments in Australia.
We should not encourage blind obedience to medical authority, and there
needs to be acknowledgement of the pharmaceutical industry’s influence
on medical practice. However, under-vaccination and infectious disease
outbreaks continue to be a public health problem in the global South. In
richer capitalist countries, like Canada, there is underfunding of
vaccines by governments looking to cut costs.
Socialists should defend free mass vaccination and argue further for
public ownership of the drug industry under democratic control. That is
the way to resolve questions of safety, efficacy, and access in a way
that is transparent to all.
The fraudulent claims and irrational arguments of the anti-vaccine
zealots need to be challenged. However, it would be wrong to suppress
the anti-vaccine movement by denying them a platform. We cannot leave it
to the medical experts to decide what arguments can and cannot be heard.
And we should have confidence that ordinary working people can sort out
the questions being debated.
New Zealand socialist James Robb expresses this class perspective on
contentious health-care issues rather well: “It is not trust in the
medical profession that the working class needs. It is trust in
scientific evidence … trust in their own judgement and above all trust
in their own power to effect changes in society. When the working class
gains such self-confidence and begins to act independently of the
bourgeoisie and its professional appendages, it will find many medical
workers and professionals are fighting by its side.”*
*”Why ‘Vaxxed’ gets a hearing and why defence of vaccination can’t be
left to doctors,” A Communist at Large, June 5, 2017.
Robbie Mahood is a member of Ligue pour l’action socialiste in Montreal
and a semi-retired family physician.
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June 25, 2018 in Canada, Health care.
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